The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. MONDAY, JULY 14, 1881.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 1420, 14 July 1884, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

MONDAY, JULY 14, 1881.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resiatanM, For the future in the distance. And the geod that we can do.

With the nominations, which take place in s.veral -electorates tomorrow the .country will be fairly pl^ed into the thick of the election fight We intend, as at the last elections, to review the candidates in the field for each constituency, and indicate who among them have, in our opinion, the strongest claims upon the confidence of the electors. Preparatory to that, it is desirable to consider what is the real issue which the electois have before them. In former elections

there have been great principles upon which the country was asked to .declare its will; and if the Atkinson Ministry had been wise, they would have selected from among their measures the question of reform in the devilish system of native land monopoly, corruption, and demoralisation, and have asked the people of New Zealand to declare whether it is by their will that the aboriginal population of these islands are being debauched and decimated for the support of a few native agents and land-jobbeiS. That one subject would have been enough M more the heart of every _ hone, t man whose better nature is not contaminated by the traffic. Mr Bryce's bill lost the -Ministry votes, and, combined with the question of cautious borrowing and fair administration ot the railway tariff, they had a strong enough case for appeal to the constituencies.

These momentous subjects have, however, been dwarfed by the extraordinary furore among the opponents of the present Government in the South in favour of Sir Julius Vogcl. We see in this movement the most serious menace to the colony, and especially to the North, where Sir Julius has not enjoyed much popularity. Inconceivable as it seems, the advent of a man who avowedly came to New Zealand only for a five months' stay, and to press a heavy claim against the colony, has changed the current of politics and broken up old political parties. That this rupture is true of the Ministerialists is declared by their avowals of hostility to him, and by the fact that the Cabinet have resolutely resisted his claim for commission on the five million loan ; that it is true of the Opposition is proved by the speechesof the Northern members of that party who are now seeking election. The consequence must therefore be, as indicated by Mr Dargaville at his meeting in Auckland West —and the statement gathers force because it conies from one who is opposed by a candidate of greater political experience and influence, and therefore tells against himself-the result, we

s.iv, must be that the term? "Minis terialist" and "Oppositionist,'' as we now understand them, will have no meaning after the elections. New combinations will be formed, and men who have before taken opposite sides will be found walking into the same lobby. If out of the revolution there should arise a great Democratic party, embracing all the real elements of progressive Liberalism on both sides of the House —and no one acquainted with tlie constitution of parties can deny that many true Liberals have been accustomed lo follow the lead of Major Atkinson—then the advent ef Sir Julius Vogel will have done good rather than harm. We can, however, feel no positive assurance that Sir Julius will not bring up a Southern party powerful enough to secure a majority that can d:spense with the Auckland vote ; and this is what we have must to fear. Mr De Lautour's appeal to die electors against the evil of hampering members with demands for local advantages is exceedingly inappropriate at such a juncture, because, however much we may deplore the predominance of public works expenditure in hustings cries and in swaying the action of the representatives of the people, we know from a sad past experience that so long as the colony continues to borrow no part of the country can afford to put its material interests in the secondary place. We must have good practical men upon j whom we can rely to make a strong and successful fight for our rights.

This view of the duty placed upon electors in casting theis votes is one that specially appeals to working men. The prosperity of Auckland in the last three years lias been the marvel and envy of the colony. We believe firmly that a portion of that prosperity at least has been due to the action of the electors in selecting good shrewd representatives at the last elections. As our members display judgment and energy in the approaching Parliament, may the future prosperity of Auckland—tlie abundance of work and the steady development of our resources—be. We agree with Mr Dargaville, therefore, in believing lhat tlie old patty lines arc a thing of the past; it is improbable that the present Ministers will come up with a majority; still more improbable that Sir George Grey will have such a party under his leadership; and greed for local benefits would never, we hope, lead the people .of Auckland to support Sir Julius Vogel so long as they believe that his return to power would be detrimental to the interests of the colony at large. Taking the situation to be as we have just endeavoured to define it, the inference seems inevitable that we ought to return the best men we have—the most capable and experienced, not binding them too tightly in the matter of per sonal leaderships. The electors must consider the personal honesty of the candidates, their experience, their past services, their ability to pursue a wise course in the difficult circumstances in which they will inevitably be placed on the meeting of Parliament. They must resolutely refuse to be led by claptrap cries, and choose from among those who offer their services men in whose personal capacity they have firm faith, sending them to Wellington with a strict injunction and hope that they will endeavour to work together for the true interests of the colony and of the masses of the people. The policy of all genuine Liberals should be to bring Sir George Grey and Major Atkinson together, and prevent either of their factions from falling into the ranks of the new party that is arising. If the | electors, exercise a wise discretion, in their choice we have good hope that the two leaders, both of whom are Democratic to the backbone, may soon be found working harmoniously together in the formation .and consolidation of the strongest Democratic party that has ever existed in New Zealand.